Okay, I’m doing things a little differently today. I don’t think Heather will mind, but I guess I’ll find out.
Instead of doing a recipe for this weeks MMAZ, I’m going to talk about the benefits of the ingredient (Nutmeg) and ways to use it! So Martha of me, right? But read all the way to the end, cause you’re gonna want to enter the giveaway. And if you care less about the benefits of nutmeg, then skip to the end. Cliffnote Blog reading is allowed today. 
Let’s talk Nutmeg. It’s a spice. Yes, obviously. And did you know that it has some pretty amazing benefits? All spices do in fact. But I bet you didn’t know that Nutmeg is the new oyster. What do I mean by that? Supposedly is the new aphrodisiac, ha! And it’s used as a sleep aid. So I am not sure how those two go together, but somehow they do. Ponder hat!
Jokes aside, here are some other benefits of nutmeg.
- Combined with other spices it can help calm or reduce stress.
- Used as a digestive tonic
- Can help reduce asthma
- Fights depression and anxiety
- It has anti-inflammatory effect which can help clear up skin.
Not too shabby, eh?
Oh Nutmeg.. love the smell but for the longest time I wasn’t a fan of the taste alone. It wasn’t until I started combining it with certain foods that I began to like this spice. Yes, we use it all the time in baking and in beverages, but that’s usually when you combine it with cinnamon, clove, etc. I’m talking about ways to use it ALONE!
Here are my favorite ways to use Nutmeg:
- Use it as a rub on lamb, chicken, steak, or pork. Mix it with black pepper, sea salt, oil, chili pepper, and a little honey or maple syrup. Rub on meat then roast in oven. It’s delicious. If you’re really adventurous add it to a coffee rub. And if you’re meatless, try it on roasted Eggplant, squash, or even Roasted Tofu!
Cornmeal Crusted Tofu with Chili pepper and Nutmeg. Original Recipe here.
- Roast cashews with it. Cashews have a buttery flavor, so they are perfect for this spice. Combine oil, sea salt, and nutmeg to raw cashews. Roasted evenly at 450-10 minutes or so. Shake or turn once.
- Make hummus or tahini. I like to use nutmeg and dried apple with chickpea and tahini. Blend into a sweet hummus!
- Sprinkle of top of Fruit. My favorite combos are nutmeg and grilled peaches with a little ricotta and honey. Or I sprinkle nutmeg on top of grapefruit in the morning. Really helps with the bitterness sometimes.
- And last but not least, use it as a yogurt or ice cream topping. Duh, you know that was coming, right? In fact, I ate it for breakfast the other day. Oikos frozen peach mango yogurt, a little love grown granola, and plenty of nutmeg on top. Amazing! I am in love with this frozen yogurt. Same stats as regular greek yogurt but it tastes like peaches and cream ice cream. Best of both worlds if you ask me.
Speaking of Oikos Frozen yogurt….
Let’s talk giveaway! As I mentioned in this last post, Oikos has graciously offered free frozen yogurt coupons and $25 Whole Foods Market giftcard to a Cotter Crunch Reader. I would love for one of you to not only win this giveaway, but also do something with it. Like pay it forward. Again, these are just my thoughts, but had to put it out there.
To win Free Oikos Frozen Greek Yogurt Coupons and a $25 giftcard to Wholefoods, do one or more of the following”:
- Tell me how you would pay it forward if you did win. Would you? Maybe use part of the giftcard to buy someone a meal, a canned good, etc..
- Check out the other flavors of Oikos Greek Frozen Yogurt. What sounds good to you?
- Tweet about it and make sure to include @stonyfield and @LCCotter in your tweet.
- Tell me one way you use Nutmeg, if you like Nutmeg.
- Go check out all the amazing MMAZ Nutmeg recipes at BetterwithVeggies.com
Open to US and CANADA residents. I’ll pick a winner by Friday the 16th.
Do you have a pay it forward story? Hope so!
Cheers,
LC
So I totally never thought of using nutmeg on anything other than french toast! I need to branch out more!
I rarely think about the benefits of most spices! Love this post, Linds. Definitely trying the crusted tofu, as we’re pretty boring as usually just saute it 😉
you guys would love it! So your style!
p.s.
when are you coming to visit?! hehe
My cousin is is volunteering at this program in the area where they try and get people to donate one can of food a day and with it they make boxes for the needy in the community. I would use my Whole Foods giftcard to buy some healthy non-perishables to donate that that program so people in our local community who are without could have a Happy Thanksgiving too :-D!! Oh & I love Whole Foods… obsessed LOL! And the flavor of the Oikos Frozen Greek Yogurt that I’d wanna try is the Superfruits one… pomegranate, raspberries, & acai… Yum!
thats awesome! i just love your heart!
So, after reading this, I was making my morning oatmeal, and decided to add nutmeg. I always add cinnamon, but never think to throw nutmeg in there too. I went for it . . . and it was SOOO good. Such a little thing to change, but it added a whole new flavor dimension to my breakfast! Thanks!
oh yea! that makes me happy!
Wow, I had no clue nutmeg had so many health benefits! Very awesome 🙂
i haven’t experimented much with nutmeg but i’d certainly try it on some yogurt!
i believe in paying it forward…i’d spread the love and prolly buy some goodies for my new roommate, or surprise the person behind me in line and buy some of their groceries. 🙂
such a good roommate!
i’m allll about the frozen chocolate. 🙂
I love adding nutmeg to my oatmeal during the fall and winter – mmm! It’s great in molasses cookies 🙂
oh molasses! it totally forgot about those cookies. YUM hillary!
YUM nutmeg on lamb! That sounds amazing! I always think of nutmeg as being in desserts but I really enjoyed this post with some tips on making it savory 🙂
I can’t enter but just wanted to say thank you for your nutmeg post. I had never thought to use it on meat or savory, but it sounds really good! And I can use all the help out there to clear my skin!
oh good! Let me know if it helps!
If I won the giveaway I’d use the gift card to buy some Thanksgiving fixings or a local food shelter and would be absolutely honored because that’s on my list of to-do’s while 23 and I always like giving back during the holiday season!!!
Well, I totally need to buy a bottle of nutmeg now! I fell like I’ve been missing out and who knows, maybe it’ll spice things up between me and the hubby haha 😉
bahahahaha! yes, the sexy spice!
Love all the nutmeg ideas! I use it everyday in my protein smoothie…soooo good! I think I’d use the gift card to buy ingredients for a huge meal, then make and deliver it to a person or family who could use a surprise home cooked meal.
I have a friend who is trying to eat healthier. I would take her to Whole Foods to show her some clean and healthy items that are new to her. Then I would buy her something to try.
Then you’ll be happy to know that I put plenty of nutmeg in my pumpkin pie last night.
yep, approved and happy!
I put nutmeg in my root vegetable soups and it adds just the right kind of ‘oomph’! 😉
I use nutmeg in all of my pumpkin recipes. I just used it in a pumkin gingerbread loaf recipe this weekend, which came out awesome.
Honey sounds like an amazing flavor, yum!
I’d pay it forward by using the giftcard to purchase foods for a Thanksgiving dinner for a needy family I know. Great giveaway!
I would share or Maybe I would give the wholefoods gc to a charity or raffle… 🙂
oh that would be awesome!
i tweeted.
i would love to try any of their greek yogurts!
I would definitely help buy someone thanksgiving dinner!
I LOVE nutmeg! I didn’t realize how much I loved it until this year and now it feels like if I CAN use it and think it’ll sound good in something, I DO use it! 🙂
I tweeted!
https://twitter.com/pace_of_laurel/status/268181986768728064
I’d love to try strawberry Oikos!
I use cinnamon and nutmeg in my oatmeal every day!!! I love spices
I’d pay it forward by using the card to buy ingredients to make dinner for a family I know that is having a rough time
nutmeg to help anxiety…. I’m all over that now. Just added that to my grocery list. Lord knows I need it this week!
read your blog friend. Hope this week is better. glad you had a restful weekend. I’ll send you some wine. LOL! haha, inside joke.
someday…
I tweeted
I would give it to my best friend, who is really into eating clean but is struggling to make ends meet because of the growing cost of health care for her 6 year old son who has Cancer. She seldom shops at Whole Foods anymore because it is simply too expensive.
LOVE nutmeg, I use it on top of my Silk nog martini. 🙂
gosh, i wish i could send everyone a Gift card. what an amazing heart you have!
already pinned the peach cranberry sauce today.. love the nutmeg recipe collaboration!
let me know if you try it!
i’m a vanilla kind of girl (and can attest that vanilla oikos greek froyo is amazing!) but the superfruits regular yogurt is delish, i can’t imagine it frozen!
My favorite use of nutmeg is in creamy sauces (alfredo, mac & cheese, etc!)
I’d use half the gift card and give the remainder to a friend or a stranger behind me in line!
I’d pay it forward by surprising someone in line and paying for their groceries!
The peach mango Oikos Greek frozen yogurt sounds amazing!
I love nutmeg in my pumpkin protein smoothies!
I dont really use nutmeg, but I bet it’d be good in my pumpkin and cinnamon oats.
I tweeted about this giveaway.
I’d like to try the chocolate yogurt.
I’d take a friend to Whole Foods for lunch.
I actually put nutmeg in my coffee – makes me think of fall!
mmmmm, I LOVE nutmeg! Actually, I don’t think there is a spice I don’t like, but nutmeg is a favourite! Next time I venture to make tofu at home, this is the recipe… I don’t make it much either, but I’ve made some pretty flavorless recipes. Thankfully my kind husband eats it regardless 😉
I would love to use the $25 gift card to purchase canned foods for a holiday food drive!
I’ve had the chocolate frozen oikos, and it was great. I’d love to try the Honey and the Super Fruits (perhaps swirled together–yum!)
I don’t use nutmeg often enough… It’s great with sauteed greens, though! I’m going to have to try that sweet and spicy hummus!
Nutmeg IS the spice of life…it makes just about everything better. 🙂 I really love it in both sweet and savory squash dishes in the fall!
I tweeted!
I think I’d want to try Chocolate or Peach Mango! They sound good, even good together!
We’re doing a canned food drive at my school, so I’d probably buy a few cans for that! I was also thinking about looking into organizations that send packages to the troops overseas, maybe donate to that instead? I’ll have to look into it…
Love nutmeg in my oatmeal, coffee and even tea! So delicious 🙂
I love nutmeg it’s a great spice to add that adds such a subtle kick! Love all the recipes!!
Their honey flavor sounds good and I honestly love their vanilla the best!
I add nutmeg to my coffee before I start brewing it. It adds a nice aroma to plain coffee and makes my kitchen smell heavenly. Love that it helps with asthma. Mine has been acting up lately, so going to start adding more.
I love doing the pay it forward with buying the persons items behind me! I think it’s those random moments that can really turn around a persons day and hopefully make them want to do the same! I’ve also wanted to offer to take a homeless person grocery shopping or get them a few items!
I just “tweeted” about this fabulous giveaway! YUMMY! Thanks Lindsay!
I actually just dropped off 9 pairs of shoes for Soles 4 Souls this afternoon! I would give some of these treats to my Corporate Boot Camp clients, who have shown up once a week for a whole year, come this Thanksgiving!
I would have to say CHOCOLATE, because you can never go wrong with that choice. Obviously! 😉
Helps with asthma? I need to go get me some nutmeg as my asthma has been acting up as of late 🙁
I’d give the giftcard to my nephew for christmas…he recently turned vegan and you know … he need to get his schooling on because he’s like all about cereal and beans and pasta right now.
*I LOVE putting nutmeg (and a SMALL hint of cayenne) in my carrot juice with almond milk combo. Try it maybe…
oh you must buy him so Kimchi then! he needs some goodness! and quick!
p.s.
you are brilliant with spices. love the nutmeg and cayenne combo with almond milk and carrot juice. Maybe even mango?
I’m drooling – and I blame you.
well call it even cause i just drooled over your thanksgiving plant power recipes!
tweet tweet! 🙂
If I was fortunate enough to win the giveaway, I would offer the gift card to a sweet girl that sits next to me in my Social Work class. She is 23 years-old, has a baby girl, and works when she isn’t attending classes. She has opened up to me about her struggle with weight and how due to her financial state she often finds herself standing at the counter of McDonald’s. She also doesn’t have access to transportation besides the bus so I would offer to drive her to Whole Foods and help her pick out some healthy affordable choices for her and her daughter! (I am after all a nutrition major and know my stuff! ;))
As far as how I incorporate nutmeg into my diet: I am always sprinkling some on top of Greek yogurt and oatmeal (with some cinnamon too)! I also enjoy taking a rice cake, spreading a Tbsp or 2 of pumpkin spice cream cheese on it and then topping it with a few dashes of nutmeg/cinnamon. Delish!
Btw: HONEY Okios froyo! yum yum.
The Cornmeal Crusted Tofu with Chili pepper and Nutmeg sounds really good, but no link???
whoops, sure did. I’ll link it now. but here’s the direct link
https://www.cottercrunch.com/2011/04/lessons-learned/
I would love to get groceries for the local food pantry. I do know how much they need it at this time of year.
I didn’t know they made frozen yogurt. I love their key lime Greek yogurt. If that was frozen I’d be in trouble.
the chocolate and honey sound preeettyy fabulous
I love nutmeg with coffee. Donating food would be a great way to pay it forward. I always try to pass on my spare things.
tweeted
I love this post – I am not a HUGE nutmeg person either, but these ideas are great and I totally plan to use it in a spice rub soon!! I tweeted this out as well because I would love some greek fro yo! it is so so good! And if I won, I would definitely put it towards a food drive! XO!
love love love nutmeg after cardamom and cinnamon it is a favorite of mine! i just got fresh nutmeg at the store to start grating fresh nutmeg on my meals, super excited 😉
oh fresh nutmeg? I’m in awe.
I’ve had the vanilla Oikos frozen yogurt before and loved it, but I would definitely try the Honey and the Blueberry flavors!
I’d use the gift card to make something to bring to the hospital. No way better to spread the cheer than with a gift from the heart (/kitchen)!
Love that you included the benefits of nutmeg…and all the ways to use it solo. I usually use it with cinnamon, cloves, etc.
I would love to try Oikos’ Honey Frozen Yogurt on top of some pumpkin pie!
um, you are genius EM!!
I’d use it to purchase a few items for our food pantry drive at church to feed a family this Thanksgiving!
I’d buy some groceries to donate to a local non-profit’s Christmas Drive!
Nutmeg is one of my all time favorites! YUM! Paying it forward is really such a nice thing! I don’t have a lot of extra money, so I can’t say I’ve done anything monetarily, but I like to think I pay it forward at the gym. I will give people workouts for free (not to sell myself either), when I can see that they are a little lost or in need of a change up in a routine.
you give so much already! your time is precious.
I’ve never used Nutmeg on it’s own, but your idea for on top of frozen yogurt sounds yummy:)
I’m all for the Superfruit!
I’ve never thought to use Nutmeg by itself! Was kind of iffy on it because it can be a little overwhelming… Anyway, I would send the gift card to my brother! Really! I don’t even live anywhere near a Whole Foods! I think it would be a good stocking stuffer!
I donate canned goods and a turkey to my church during their Thanksgiving drive to help the homeless and elderly. Thank you!
Mmm…I love nutmeg! I actually tend to forget about it, since I have a great love for cinnamon. Thanks for the reminder. I didn’t know about all the benefits!
an aphrodisiac AND sleep aid?? who’da thunk it.
like I did last Monday, if I were to win this I would send them all to one of my friends who lost everything. they are living with (very gracious!) friends as they try to find a new home and rebuild their lives. it still brings me to tears that there are so many just like my friend, who need so much help.
geez, now I’m crying at work! 🙂 BIG HUGS to you, Lindsay!! I hope you have a better week, and that you are taking time for you… XO
This post is most certainly allowed – it’s like the intro to convince you to try all the nutmeg recipes. I had no idea it was good for digestion! 😉
Wow, I’m drooling over the idea of the sweet hummus. It’s crazy, I always have the ingredients for hummus in my house, yet I never make it myself. I need to check out that tofu recipe too. I am in love with fall spices….pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, allspice, cloves, and nutmeg. They’re all invited to the party. I love to mix them up in my almond butter to give it a little extra kick!
I would definitely have to give the Oikos coupon to our amazing babysitter. She loves Oikos, and we love her! She has been an incredible blessing in our lives, and in the lives of our kids, ever since I decided to go back to work full time. As for the Whole Foods gift card, I would have to share that with my sister, who is also GF and vegetarian. She works incredibly hard for incredibly little, and she is always struggling financially. She deserves it!
I love all the nutmeg recipes on her link up! I really enjoy this weekly post because the recipes are so realistic for someone like me to make on a daily basis.
I don’t think I could pick just one Oikos flavor, they all sound pretty tasty to me.
I would pay it forward by using part of it to put together a donation bag where you provide a full thanksgiving meal to a family. they do this each year in my town and I just love the cause! it is so nice to see families so grateful to have a thanksgiving meal they would not normally be able to have.
Nutmeg is a staple ingredient for the ginger cookies I have to make every christmas for my uncle. they are his favorite and for a picky guy like him that means a lot!
I gotta get my nutmeg recipe up – I have to make it again today if I have time because I have no pictures of it. I love nutmeg on yogurt with raspberries and I add it to a simple dish made with israeli couscous and chickpeas.
I just bought some frozen yogurt today – its a brand called sweet scoops – I got ginger with madagascar vanilla bean – its sooo good and creamy 🙂
If I won your giveaway I would pay it forward by buying the ingredients to make dinner for my friend Lily and her bf because they invited me over for dinner last week. I promised them some chili and cornbread.
Looove the cornmeal crusted tofu – exactly the recipe I’ve been looking for lately. thanks girl!
I tweeted (@runningescapade)
Chocolate and Super Fruits, definitely!
I’d donate the GC to my local food pantry 😉
I love nutmeg. I froth it into my almond milk in the morning before adding it to my tea. The fall is for chai, so the flavors work wonderfully together.
I like using nutmeg in pumpkin cookies!
[email protected]
The Strawberry Oikos flavor sounds good to me!
[email protected]
Wonderful opportunity! I would definitely pay it forward by using the gift card to buy groceries for my step dad who is struggling financially. I am one of six children and three of them are still at home. It’d be great to give him the gift card and yogurt.
[email protected]
Ohhh…I’m liking the cashew and hummus ideas. I’m working on some goodies for my Christmas movie party, so I may have to put those suggestions to use!
I had no idea that Nutmeg could help reduce asthma. You enlighten me every day! I would definitely share the coupons and buy groceries for the donation sites and shelters that are helping those affected by Hurricane Sandy.
LMAO.
youre my twin
this is kindasorta my wed post for the skirt giveaway.
I love you.
I love us.
it’s never about us.
xoxoxo
I tweeted
I’ve got a neighbor that I like to surprise with dinner every once in a while. It’s something little, but I get an urge (God prompting?) and bring dinner and the smile on her face make me smile even bigger.
ps – big nutmeg fan over here. I like it sprinkled on hot tea with milk and on my oatmeal. I just had a grapefruit for breakfast and I would have never thought about putting nutmeg on top. Will try it tomorrow!
another reason why i wish i was your neighbor!
p.s.
any trips to austin soon?
I like nutmeg, but it’s a spice I tend to forget about. I’ve yet to try the frozen greek yogurt. I think I would use the gift card to help buy the makings for some GF sides for Thanksgiving that my sister could enjoy.
you win the best sister award too! wish i had a sis like you
I am all over nutmeg -and that cornmeal crusted tofu! I need to try that out soon.
I’ve always wanted to buy groceries for someone in line. I’d probably do something like that, or give a coupon to a random person in the yogurt sections.
i love that! watch out ATL, the yogurt section has a santa!